Elara's POV
The silence between us stretched, heavy with unspoken words and unexplainable tension. Anthony’s presence was both overwhelming and oddly soothing, like a force of nature I couldn’t ignore. I couldn’t look away from him, even as my mind screamed at me to run, to retreat to the safety Sergio offered.
“Elara,” Anthony said softly, breaking the silence. His voice sent a ripple through me, warm and steady, yet trembling with something deeper.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say or feel. “Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
His lips quirked in a bittersweet smile, and he took a cautious step closer. “Because seeing you feels like finding the missing part of my soul.”
My breath caught in my throat, his words striking something deep and fragile inside me.
Anthony studied m
